Pole-changer.



B. M. TORMIN,

POLE CHANGER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1909.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGHAPH CO.,WASIHNGTON, D. c

E. M. TORMIN.

POLE CHANGER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1900.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PI. ANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTON, I) c.

E. M. TORMIN.

POLE CHANGER.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 1, 1909.

1,024,463. Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EGMONT MAX TORMIN, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HOLTZER- CABOT ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

POLE-CHANGER.

Application filed February 1, 1909.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, EGMONT MAX Ton- MIN, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, of Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Pole-Changers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to a polechanger, and is embodied in a pole-changer of the kind which is adapted to be used for converting direct currents into intermittent currents or alternating currents, such pole changers being useful for selective signaling on party-line telephone systems.

I shall describe my invention as embodied in an instrument designed for signaling,

with the understanding that the novel features of the invention are embodied in the polechanger itself and are not limited to combinations with any external devices, since the instrument may be capable of use for many purposes, and the invention does not depend for its novelty upon any specific application of the device to a special system.

A further feature of the invention is embodied in the mechanical construction and arrangement of the vibrator pendulum, or armature, which consists of a single piece of spring tempered steel, secured to the magnet frame, and extended upward and then downward in the form of a bow, carrying the bridging contacts near the lower end, and an adjustable weight to regulate and to steady the vibrating movement.

A further feature of the invention consists in the combination with the vibrator,

of a pole-changing switch arranged to reverse the direction of the current through the contacts from time to time to prevent the pitting of the platinum tips.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation,

taken on line 00, Fig. 2, of a polechanger showing suflicient thereof to illustrate the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, partly in section; Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the circuits in the simplest form;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are diagrams showing the individual circuits, Fig. 4 the circuit for positive intermittent currents; Fig. 5 the circuit for negative intermittent currents, and Figs. 6 and 7 the circuit for alternating 5 current; and Fig. 8 is a diagram similar to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

Serial No. 475,446.

Fig. 3, but showing, in addition, the pole changing swltch.

Referrmg to Figs. 1 and 2 which show the mechanical construction of the vibrator, the

electro-magnet a which receives current from the vibrator battery is mounted on a base Z) of insulating material, and the vibrating armature (Z is in the form of a pendulum which consists of a piece of spring-tempered steel bent in the form of a bow and supported at (Z above the electro-magnets. This pendulum which carries the vibrating contacts is provided at its lower end with an adjustable weight (Z for the purpose of regulating and steadying the vibrating movement. The circuit connections through the instrument are made through binding posts 6 and 6 the frame 0 of the electro magnet, and the contact members f, f f f f f and F, the contact member last mentioned being the make and break contact for the circuit of the vibrator battery. The vibrating armature (Z serves to bridge the necessary circuits from the signaling battery and has platinum tips g, etc., at opposite sides arranged to engage with the stationary contacts f, F, &c., as the armature vibrates. All the stationary contacts are adjustable and shown as formed at the ends of screw-threaded members extending through supporting members and being held in their adusted position by means of screw clamps. The condensers it, ]L2 are located under the base 6 and the resistance coil 9 which is in multiple with the electro-magnet a, is also below the base.

The two vibrating contact members 9 and g which cooperate with the stationary contacts f and f, are electrically connected together, but insulated from the remaining contacts, these two contact members being connected through a conducting spring i with a bridge piece 2' supported on, but insulated from, the electro-magnet frame 0, this bridge piece in turn being connected by means of a conductor 2' with the common terminal G of the line. The remaining five contact members, as well as the vibrator contact member, are all connected together, and with the magnet frame, which, in turn, is connected by means of a conductor 7.: with one side of the vibrating battery and also with the other side of the line terminal indicated by the reference letter A.

For purposes of illustration, I have shown the pole changer as arranged to operate signals on athree party line, the line wires 1 and 2 being shown in the diagram, Fig. 3, as connecting respectively with the terminals A and G. The three stations 13, C and D are shown as equipped respectively with an alternating current signal bell s and polarized signal bells s and 5*, the alternating current signal being bridged across between the line conductors 1 and 2, while the polarized signals are bridged from the conductor 2 to the ground, or a third conductor. To operate these signals the pole changer is provided with terminals P and N also connected to the ground or third conductor, and these terminals will be hereinafter referred to as the positive terminal and the negative terminal. The terminals A and G will be referred to as the alternating current terminal and the common terminal. The alternating current signal at the station E is controlled by a switch A while the positive and negative polarized signals at the stations C and D are controlled respectively by switches]? and N In the operation, the vibrating armature is arranged to vibrate continuously, and for this purpose a battery E, or other source of current, is employed, the circuit leading from said battery through the electro-magnet a and thence to the stationary contact member 1" with which the armature contact normally lies in contact. This completes the circuit through the conductor to the terminal 6 so that when the current is turned on, the electro-magnet a becomes energized, attracting the armature and breaking the circuit at f", 9 deenergizing the electro-magnet, and producing the vibration of the armature in the ordinary way. I place a high resistance coil 7' in multiple with the electro-magnet a, and there is also a switch r in the vibrator circuit to stop the instrument when not in use. The signaling circuits are controlled by the other contacts carried by the armature, the arrangement being such that the desired signal will be sent over the line according to the signaling switch which is closed.

If a positive intermittent current is to be used in order to operate the signal at station C, the switch P is closed and a circuit established from the signaling battery F as fol lows: Starting from the positive terminal of the battery F, the current flows through conductor 3 to the stationary contact f where it is intermittingly carried through the contact to the main conducting portion t of the vibrating member, and thence through contacts and f to conductor 5 which is connected to the positive terminal P. The switch P being closed, current thenrolling flows to the ground or the third conductor through the signal s and then to the llne 2 and terminal G, thence through conductor to contacts and f and through the con ductor 6 to the negative terminal of battery F. At each vibration of the armature (Z, therefore, an impulse of current is sent in the desired direction through the signal s to call a subscriber at the station C.

To send a signal to the station D, the switch N is closed and the battery circuit may be traced in the reverse direction as follows: Starting from the negative terminal of the battery F, the circuit is through conductor 6 and contacts f and g, and then through conductor a and contacts and f, conductor 7, to the negative terminal N. The circuit is completed through the signal 8* by conductor 2, terminal G, conductor 2 contacts 9 and f to conductor 3 which connects with the positive terminal of the battery F. Current, therefore, flows through the signal 5 in the opposite direction and gives an intermittent current of the proper character to ring the signal hell 8* without ringing the signals 3 and s ll hen the signal 5 is to be operated, the switch A is closed, and in the vibration of the armature d, the positive and negative terminals of the battery F are alternately connected with the terminal A, and also with the terminal G so that. alternate impulses of current flow over the line in opposite directions. hen the armature moves so as to make contact at f 9 and f and 5/ the circuit is from the positive terminal of the battery F through conductor contacts f and g to conductor 4 which is connected by means of the conductor 70 with the terminal A. Current then flows over conductor 1 and through signal hell 3 to conductor 2, and thence to the terminal G which is connected by the conductor 2' through the contacts g and f, with the conductor 6 which leads to the negative terminal of the battery.

Vhen the armature (Z swings in the opposite direction, the positive terminal is con nected through conductor and contacts f and g and conductor 2', with the terminal G, while the negative terminal of the battery is connected with the terminal A through conductors in, 4: and (3 closed by the contacts and g.

In order to neutralize the effect of self induction in the signaling devices, it is desirable to place a condenser in a closed circuit with the signal, beyond the battery, it being necessary, however, to arrange the condenser so that current will only enter the same in one direction when the battery circuit is closed. I have arranged the instrument so that by employing two condensers, they can be maintained in the circuit without the use of any mechanical condevices other than the circuit controlling contacts themselves, without, however, having any tendency to discharge the battery, since only one condenser is in the closed circuit during the closure of the battery circuit, and is never subjected to the action of current flowing in the opposite direction except when the inductive charge is operative on the break of the circuit.

In carrying out the invention, I arrange the condenser it in a permanent bridge circuit between the negative terminal N and the common terminal G, the condenser being shown as connected with these two terminals through conductors 7 and 8. The other condenser [L2 is similarly bridged by means of a conductor 9, between the positive terminal P and the common terminal G. lVhile each of these condensers is in a closed circuit with the battery F, it will be seen that in the vibration of the armature the condensers come into the circuit closed through the contacts alternately, so that the direction of flow of the current in the condensers is never changed and no current will flow through to discharge the battery. hen, however, one of the external signaling circuits is closed,it will be seen that the signal therein is included in a closed circuit with the said circuit beyond the bat tery. Assuming, for example, that a signal is being sent to the station C, the switch P is closed, there is a closed circuit from terminal P to the ground or third conductor, signal 8 to conductor 2, common terminal Gr, conductor 9, and the condenser if to the positive terminal P (see Fig. l.) Similarly, when the switch N is closed a closed circuit can be traced through the condenser 71 there being no circuit through the condenser It (see Fig. 5).

In order to utilize the same condensers for the alternating current signal circuit, I employ the contacts f and g and f and so that the condenser circuit may be alternately brought into series with the signal circuit at a point beyond the battery.

In the movement of the armature which closes the circuit through contacts f and and f and to connect the terminal A with the positive terminal of the battery F and the terminal G with the negative terminal of the battery F, the contacts i and g also come together, closing a circuit through condenser 72 which may be traced as follows, starting with the terminal A: conductor 7c, conductor at, conductor 5, condenser h conductor 9, terminal G, con ductor 2, signal 8 conductor 1, back to terminal A, (see F ig. 6.) I arrange the contacts so that this circuit at each vibration remains closed an instant after the opening of the signaling circuit, so that sparking at the contacts is prevented. For this purpose, I have adjusted the contacts f and so that they stand closer to the vibrating contacts 9 and g than the other contacts, so that in the vibration of the armature, the condenser circuit is closed during the breaking of the signaling circuit,but shifted to the other condenser prior to the impulse of current in the opposite direction.

For the purpose of illustrating more clearly the condenser circuits under the dif ferent conditions, reference may be made to the diagrams, Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, in which the circuits for the positive intermittent current, the negative intermittent current and the circuit for the alternating current are traced in their simplest forms.

From Figs. 4: and 5, it will be seen that the condensers 71/ and h are permanently in the signaling circuit, although each is independent of the other, the condenser circuit, however, being always closed, so that the inductive impulse of the signaling magnet is taken care of at the break of the circuit by the condenser. To show the operation of the alternating current, Figs. (3 and 7 indicate the circuits closed at each vibration, and from these diagrams in connection with the above description it will be seen that each time the circuit is closed to send an impulse through the signal a condenser circuit is also closed and is caused to remain closed after the breaking of the battery circuit, so that the condenser acts in this case as before to prevent sparking at the con tacts. At the same time, the circuit is shifted from one condenser to the other at each vibration, so that neither condenser receives current in two directions while the battery' circuit is closed. The condenser circuit shown in Fig. 6 has already been traced, and the circuit shown in Fig. 7 is as follows: terminal G, conductor 8 condenser ]L, conductor 7, contacts f 9 conductor t, conductor 76, terminal A, conductor 1, signal 3 and conductor 2.

The arrangen'ient of the reversing switch used to prevent pitting of the contact is shown in Fig. 8, the said switch in being indicated as a knife blade switch having the members m m 772 and m adapted, upon the reversal of the switch, to change the connections from contact members m m &c., to m, m, &c. In the position shown in Fig. 8, the circuits are traced in the diagram, Fig. 3, the contact f being con nected with the positive terminal of the battery F, while the contacts and f are connected with the negative terminal thereof. \Vhen the switch 171 is moved to the other position, however, the contact f becomes positive, and the contacts f and negative, thus reversing the direction of current through the contact members. The arrangement is such, however, that this reversal takes place without changing the circuit connection with the terminal which is in use for signaling purposes, the positive terminal of the battery being connected with the terminal P when the switch P is closed. lVith the switch 712 in the position shown, and assuming the switch P to be closed, the circuit is from the positive terminal of the battery F through conductor 3, switch member m to contacts f and g conductor a, contacts ,7 and f, to switch member m, conductor 10, switch member m to conductor 5,which con nects with the positive line terminal P. The return circuit is through contacts g and f conductor 6. switch member at, switch contact 121 to the negative terminal of the battery. .Vhen the switch at is in the reverse position, the positive terminal of the battery I is connected through conductor 12 with switch member m which connects through switch member in with the conductor 6 which, in turn, leads to the contact f, so that the current passes through 7' and g to 4:, and then through g and to conductor T which leads to the switch member m which at that time is connected by the switch member m with the conductor 5. Similarly, it signals are to be sent to the other station by closing the switch N the circuits will be reversed by reversing the switch without changing the final connection between the terminal N and the negative terminal of the battery.

Claims.

1. In a pole-changer, a battery; a vibrating member movable between stationary circuit controlling contacts, there being two of such contacts at each side of the vibrator, one of said contacts at each side being con nccted with the positive terminal of the battery and the other with the negative terminal thereot'; contact members carried by the vibrating member and connected respectively with the terminals of an external circuit: two condensers adapted to be alternately included in closed circuits beyond the battery: stationary contacts at opposite sides of the vibrator controlling the condenser circuits; and contacts on the vibrator cooperating with said stationary contacts and arranged to maintain the condenser circuits closed until after the battery circuit has been broken.

2. In a polechange the combination with separate terminals for one conductor of a circuit, and a single return terminal for the other conductor thereof; of a source of current: conductors leading from opposite poles of said source of current to said single return terminal; a vibrating contact carrying member having contacts on one side to close a circuit through one of said conductors, and contacts on the other side to close a circuit through the other of said conductors: and two condensers permanently bridged between said separate terminals and said common terminal respectively.

3. In a pole-changer, a source of current; an electro-magnet; an armature; a vibrating pendulum consisting of a single piece of springtempered steel secured to the frame of the electro-magnet and extended upward and then downward in the form of a bow; an adjustable weight secured to said pendulum to regulate and steady the vibrating movement thereof; a contact carrying arm secured to said pendulum and extending transversely thereto and provided on one side with four contact terminals and on the other side with three contact terminals; correspoi'iding stationary contact terminals located at opposite sides of said arm; and circuits controlled by the movable and stationary terminals.

4. In a pole changer, a source of current; a terminal for positive intermittent current; a terminal for negative intermittent current; a terminal for alternating current; a return terminal; circuits leading respectively from the positive and negative termi nals of the source of current to the terminals for the positive and negative intermittent currents; a single circuit cont-roller in each of said circuits; circuits leading respectively from the positive and negative terminals of the battery to the return terminal; two circuit controllers in each of said circuits; branch circuits leading from the circuits last named at a point between the two circuit controllers to the terminal for alternating current; and condensers bridged between the terminal for positive alternating currents and the return terminal, and the terminal for negative alternating currents and the return terminal, respectively.

5. In a pole changer, a source of current; switch contacts located in circuits from said source of current; a vibrating member to control said switch contacts; external circuits to receive currents modified by the action of said switch contacts; condensers permanently bridged across said external circuits; and means whereby the action of said switch contacts breaks the condenser circuits at each break in the battery circuit through the direct action of the vibrating member.

(3. In a pole changer, a source of current; a terminal for positive intermittent current; a terminal for negative intermittent current; a terminal for alternating current; a common return terminal; circuits connecting the positive terminal of the source of current with the terminal for positive intermittent current, the terminal for alternating current and the common return terminal; circuits connecting the negative terminal of the source of current with the terminal for negative intermittent current, the terminal for alternating current and the common return terminal; two circuit breakers in one side of each circuit; one circuit breaker in the opposite side thereof; and a vibrator adapted to operate the said circuit breakers at each vibration.

7. In a pole changer, a source of current;

a terminal for positive intermittent current; a terminal for negative intermittent current; a terminal for alternating current; a common return terminal; circuits connecting the positive terminal of the source of current With the terminal for positive intermittent current, the terminal for alternating current and the common return terminal; circuits leading respectively from the negative terminal of the source of current to the terminal for the intermittent current, the terminal for alternating current and the common return terminal; a vibrator adapted to open and close all the said circuits at each vibration; and condensers permanently bridged from the common return terminal to the terminal for positive intermittent current and the terminal for negative intermittent current, respectively.

8. In a pole changer, a source of current; a terminal for positive intermittent current; a terminal for negative intermittent current; a terminal for alternating current; a common return terminal; a condenser bridged from the terminal for positive intermittent current to the common return terminal; a condenser bridged from the terminal for negative intermittent current to the common return terminal; main circuits leading from the positive and negative terminals of the battery, respectively, to the terminal for alternating current; branch circuits from said main circuits leading to the condensers; a vibrating circuit interrupter, and contacts carried by said interrupter for making and breaking both said main and said branch circuits.

9. In a pole changer, a source of current; a terminal for positive intermittent current; a terminal for negative intermittent current; a terminal for alternating current; a common return terminal; a condenser bridged from the terminal for positive intermittent current to the common return terminal; a condenser bridged from the terminal for negative intermittent current to the common return terminal; main cir cuits leading from the positive and negative terminals of the battery, respectively, to the terminal for alternating current; branch circuits from said main circuit leading to the condensers; a vibrator, and means car ried by said vibrator for making and breaking both said main and said branch circuit-s, the break in the main circuit being caused to occur prior to the break in the branch circuits.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EGMONT MAX TORMIN.

WVitnesses M. E. COVENEY, JAs. J. MALONEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

